Robin Goodenough's family feel devastated after police walk free

Two police officers charged over the death in custody of Robin Goodenough, a 26 year old Oxford man, walked free from court on Friday of last week after being acquitted of assault by a jury.

PCs Robin Shane and John Shatford were involved in stopping and arresting Robin, who was driving his sister’s car, in Oxford, September 2003.

After a roadside altercation, Robin fell to the ground and suffered a fatal heart attack.

PC Shane admitted punching him twice in the face to stop him resisting arrest.

The two officers had originally been charged with assault and manslaughter along with another police officer, PC Paul Summerville.

A jury acquitted Summerville on both charges last year, but could not reach a verdict over Shane and Shatford.

The manslaughter charges against them were dropped and they were retried on assault charges.

Tom Goodenough, Robin’s brother, said the family was “devastated” by the result.

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